Jason Hadden

Jason Hadden MBE is an award-winning barrister specialising in Family law.  Jason has been shortlisted for four out of the past five years at the barrister of the year awards by the Law Society in Birmingham.

Jason appears on a daily basis in courts all over the country in private law disputes. He appears in the magistrates court, county and the High court. He undertakes first appointments, fact finding hearings, DRAs and final hearings.

Jason is regularly instructed in cases involving international parental child abduction, forced marriage, emotional abuse, allegations of sexual abuse, fabricated illness and serious physical abuse (often with linked criminal proceedings). He has developed expertise in dealing with complex medical evidence and parental alienation. Jason has successfully defended clients on allegations of rape, child abuse and domestic abuse.

Jason was recently instructed in a successful twelve-day fact finding hearing in respect of allegations of physical chastisement in the West Country. He appeared in many cases where he successfully represented fathers who were accused of sexually abusing their children. He has  effectively represented a mother who was accused of not supporting contact. Within the last two months he has successfully represented parents in costs applications against the other parent, with awards of £14,000 and £5,200 respectively.

He is considered a specialist in cases where allegation of parental alienation has been raised by one client against the other.

Jason is regularly instructed at all stages of proceedings, in the Family Court and High Court, including appeals. Matters where Jason has acted include fact-finding hearings containing the most serious of allegations, including sexual abuse, FGM, rape, forced marriage and cultural disputes. He has undertaken injunctions under the Family Law Act, cost applications and issues regarding change of surname, school and both internal and international relocation. He has particular expertise in cases that involve cross family and immigration issues and complex inter-country jurisdiction aspects.

Jason has also recently successfully concluded a complex 16-day private law children action and has  expertise in cases involving the appointment of R16.4 Guidelines. He is able to provide prompt written advice in all areas of family law. He is a specialist on PD 12J (domestic abuse) and frequently lectures on this topic to magistrates and domestic violence advisors.

Jason is particularly praised by solicitors for being a very tough negotiator with a no nonsense style. He is extremely popular with clients for his thorough and patient approach to family proceedings. He is extremely forceful and robust in cross examination and in submissions. He can be blunt, persuasive, but always passionate and dedicated.

Jason’s case preparation is first rate and solicitors praise him for being dedicated, passionate and skilled advocate. Clients have reported that Jason always “fights his client’s corner in court”, and “fights hard for justice”. He is regularly praised by clients for his “listening”, “speaking in a way I understood” and “giving it to me straight. He doesn’t muck about, with clients or the other side”; “that he doesn’t get intimidated by the Judge or the other side”; “a breathe of fresh air”; a “fighter”; a “game-changer”.

Jason acts for mothers, fathers and indeed grandparents in private law proceedings.

Jason has over twenty years’ experience having originally qualified as a solicitor and becoming a partner in a private practice in London. Jason lectures on private law, to solicitors, barristers and members of the judiciary. He regularly speaks on radio (BBC, TalkRadio, LBC) on social and legal matters. He is an accomplished author having co-written How to Represent Yourself in the Family Court published by Little Brown. He regularly writes for regional and national publications.

He also advises in foreign jurisdictions, having recently advised on parental alienation in a case in Singapore.

Jason undertakes direct (public) access cases which allows clients to instruct him directly without the need for a solicitor.

Jason was appointed MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his work in the law.